People from the Cheltenham estate of St Paul's are to take their fight to protect their homes and community to the prime minister.

They are resisting council plans to demolish houses in five streets and replace them over five years.

A coachload of residents joined by the town's Liberal-Democrat MP, Martin Horwood, will hand a petition against the proposals to 10 Downing Street.

The borough has said people living in the area will have the final say.

Anti-social behaviour

New homes will be built in place of those which are demolished

The proposals were supposed to signal the start of a new era for a place which the council says is blighted by high levels of anti-social behaviour.

The area ranks in the bottom 5% of the UK's worst wards, but residents believe any plans to demolish their homes would be a big mistake.

The 260 houses which would be demolished are in Aldridge Close, Crabtree Place, Folly Lane, Hudson Street and Manser Street.

New homes would be built in place of those demolished and there would be a range of options for former residents which include new rented homes, shared ownership as well as homes sold on the open market.

Mike Redman, the council's lead officer for the project said it has yet to make any firm decision over the future of the estate and has commissioned a detailed neighbourhood renewal assessment which will include consulting with every household in the area.